Our kinaesthetic sense is not only the basis of balance, posture and movement, it is also the basis in a very real way of our sense of self. Although our 'self encompasses our minds, feelings and perhaps some sense of a spiritual identity, we do not exist without our bodies.

Because of this, the way we use ourselves is very closely bound up with who we are, or who we think we are. We say things like T am round-shouldered', when it would perhaps be more accurate to say T am rounding my shoulders'; basically, we identify on a deep level with being round-shouldered, and therefore changing our use can mean having to change our self-perception too.

Many people find that as their kinaesthetic sense increases, they have a stronger sense of their own identity. A common response during lessons is T feel like I've come home'. What they are experiencing is coming home into their own bodies.